19.11.08

Click here to enter my FAHB-U-LOUS new website. I've complained about Blogger and Pyzam for long enough that Bjørn sat down and figured out a new design for me. He didn't hand-code it this time (though he does plenty of that), but he definitely pimped it out, so it said Jenny ALL over it, complete with a Colophon, blog and wishlist. The many advantages of marrying a computer nerd.

It is a new address, so if any of you are cool enough to RSS feed all your blogs, you will have to re-subscribe to it by clicking on the Feed link. Enjoy.

29.9.08

It was bad enough that I was in between cell phones for almost 2 weeks, but this weekend, all of a sudden my new AT&T phone, which I have had for less than a week, stopped working. Everytime I try to make a call, it says "service unavailable" and apparently nobody has been able to call me.

What a pain in the butt. I'm "troubleshooting" with the AT&T guy right now. Apparently, all it took was turning the phone off and on again. Of course I DID try that this weekend, and it didn't work! Oh well, at least it is working again.

21.9.08

Photos from our trip are up. Here's a couple to wet the appetite. Click on 'em to head to the whole she-bang on flickr.One of the funniest moments, was definitely seeing Bjørn as a clown for kids skits :)

Oh and here's the quick slideshow we made for the Mexico presentation at the Vancouver church.

QUICK HIGHLIGHTS - there is just too much amazing experiences God took us all through, but I will give a brief list -*One of our youth finally opened up about his life, after 6 years of being a part of our group, and at the end of the week, Bjørn had the honor of leading him to Christ. *One of our youth was allowed to leave Rehab early to come on the trip, and she actually had a good time!*1 HUGE rededicated life from a girl that has been a part of the youth group for 9 years.*LOTS of questions and curiosity about God from our non-Christian youth*crying and intercessory prayer led by youth every other night

Carla's (our leader) prayer for the trip this whole summer was that the big moments would happen back in Vancouver, and not all in Mexico...and it is amazing to see how God is making that happen already.

5.9.08

I guess I didn't fully consider how starting a new job and moving to a new house would be a lot to handle at one time. But these are some of the funny combinations it has brought about:

1. Not cooking: because I don't have energy (due to job) nor a proper kitchen (due to moving)

2. My whole life revolves around packing, organizing, moving and unpacking (due to moving a new house, and due to setting up a new classroom)

3. Looking professional on the job: due to not having a working shower when first moving into our place, I take a backpack and shower supplies to my aunts and uncles' every morning to shower. I can't find my clothes, because I still haven't unpacked my closet. Once, I do find my clothes, I take a "laboring" outfit and a "professional" outfit to work everyday. The "labor" outfit is for moving and organizing the classroom, and the "professional" outfit is for meetings and home visits in the afternoons.

Luckily I have had some life-saving people in my life the last couple of weeks:

1. Bjørn: moved everything the first week and would work until 11pm every night, when my mind would stop functioning at 9pm.

2. Peter & Esther: My in-laws came up 2 weekends in a row to clean up our new place, clean up our old place, and move furniture in both houses, and make repairs around our new place.

3. John: My uncle oversaw and worked hard to install a working shower in our "new" house. As well, as helping move furniture and make repairs with Peter all around the house.

4. Mike & Marty: also did a deep clean of our new place, after their son, Mikal moved out to go to TWU.

Thank you to all of the Eides and Bulthuis'! I don't usually do props on my blog, but let's be honest: you guys deserved it this time.

And You guys thought we were moving out for good! Bjørn and I are HAPPILY living again at 936 Van Dyk Rd. (a.k.a. Bjørn's grandparent's very stylish 70's home)! This was our welcoming poster the first time we moved in. I guess we were old news this time, as we didn't get anything!

26.8.08

What do you do? Team teach a group of head start (government funded group) in the mornings with a head start teacher, and teach my own group of 10 preschoolers in the afternoons.

Are you overwhelmed? Well, I'm going on my first home visit to go over 13, yes that's right, 13 forms with parents of one my preschoolers. I just learned about the forms yesterday, so it's a little fast.

Are you excited? Very. Not only is the job better pay, it is full time, full benefits including retirement, and I get to work with some preschoolers in Spanish (something I have been super interested in since last spring).

How was your guys trip to Mexico? Incredible. It will require several of its own posts.

10.8.08

7.8.08

Sunday afternoon is the beginning of "Mexico Missions Trip 2008."

We are having the whole team over for dinner and then departing for Seattle. Sunday evening, the whole team is staying at Bjørn's parents' church in Port Orchard. Fly out Sunday morning. Mexico 2008 from Monday to the following Tuesday evening.

Wednesday morning head up to San Diego to surf, water ski, boogie board, etc. as a team fun day. Thursday morning, the team departs and Bjørn and I start our Anniversary trip. Sunday morning: fly out of San Diego to Seattle, drive home.

The next week: move out of our house, maybe start a new job that Wednesday (with the school district). I do have an interview with Lynden School District tomorrow - career center counselor/secretary. Ya never know.

3.8.08

It's taken almost 5 weeks for my garden to take off, but now not only do I have all these lovely herbs pictured above, I have lemon basil, regular basil, Rosemary, and a little cilantro.

As many of you know, Bjørn and I are moving out at the end of August and back to the Eide Compound (where 2 of Bjørn's aunts and uncles already live), into Bjørn's grandparents' old house- still in Lynden. Thus, it makes me sad that we are leaving our healthy herb garden soon. Maybe I could transplant 1 or 2? Or at least pick a lot the day before we move out. At least now, I know I can garden a little! I was definitely doubting myself for about a month there.

2.8.08

For our one year anniversary, Bijørno and I went out to dinner and dessert at Arms Reach Bistro in Deep Cove, BC, where Bjørn had proposed to me me 1 1/2 years ago. It was much more fun to be there in good weather (compared to January) and healthy (compared to having mono).

31.7.08

That can't fill out the "word verification" correctly the first time, when trying to leave a message on some one's blog? Everytime, I psyche myself up to do it, and blip, try again. Maybe I'm dyslexic? Or just dumb.

25.7.08

After sleeping under the stars (at the Eide compound), last Friday night, Bjørn and I left at 7:00am Saturday morning to go for a hike near Mt. Baker. The drive was beautiful.

We hiked up Goat Mountain trail. Bjørn purposefully neglected to tell me that the map at the Ranger's office indicated our hike was one line straight up the mountain. 2.5 miles all switchbacks in the woods 1.25 miles in an upper meadow, and one 360 degree phenomenal viewpoint.

17.7.08

I ran across this poem from a classmate from twu, and it really caught me. It is his translation of a well-known Uruguayan journalist, Eduardo Galeano. Galeano describes himself as "A writer obsessed with remembering, with remembering the past of America above all and above all that of Latin America, intimate land condemned to amnesia." This piece he laments the place of the Indigenous people of Latin America in the eyes of fellow citizens.

It is more powerful in Spanish, so if you know any, I recommend reading it in its original context. But here is my attempt.

The Nobodies

"The fleas dream of buying themselves a dog and the nobodies dream of leaving povertyThat one magic day suddenly good luck will rain, pouring rain of good luckBut good luck doesn’t rain: yesterday, today, tomorrow or everA sprinkling of good luck doesn’t fall for the nobodies that call for itEven if they wake up on the right footOr if they change their broom at the beginning of the year

The nobodies: the sons of nobody, the owners of nothing.The nobodies: the no ones, the lowest of lows, dying in life, the doomed, doom forever.The Ones that are not, even If they are.The ones that don’t talk a language but a dialect.The ones that don’t have a religion but superstitions. The ones that don’t have a culture but folklore. The ones that are not human beings but human resources.The ones that don’t have a face but a number.The ones that don’t appear in world history but in the police blotter of local papers.The nobodies, the ones that, are even cheaper than the bullet that kills them"

I have seen this attitude present in Latin American countries towards the Indigenous people of the countries, and it is definitely present in North Americans' response to hearing daily international news of major catastrophes.

But I have to wonder if the last stanza ("The Ones that..."), isn't North Americans' attitude toward Native (American) people? I have to wonder if despite my 5+ years spent with Native people, if this isn't my own attitude many times?

16.7.08

Steph picked me up in the morning, and Amy and I spent the day running errands for her (and getting sidetracked at the Alaskan Brewing Co. headquarters). Last minute we helped the florist put together some floral arrangements.

and then we headed to the yacht club for rehearsal dinner. That was a blast - phenomenal view in 3 directions, good food, good drink, and good times. Amy and I whipped up a last minute a round of "Who will..." game for Ross and Steph, which I learned at my own rehearsal dinner.

8.7.08

North the Rush is on. I don't know if any of you who had parents that made you listen to classic, yet terrible music....but my dad always made us listen to Johnny Horton. So when I thought of our trip to Alaska, my childhood came rushing back:

Bjørn and I head North tomorrow evening for Ross & Steph's wedding (2 of my close friends from TWU). This is a shot of Steph and I at Stanley Park Christmastime - as you may note, Ross is intruding the picture. He's been doing that for awhile, and now I'm glad, they're finally tying the knot! They started dating only a few months after Bjørn and I.

This is my first time to "The Last Frontier" (as their license plate states) so I'm EXTREMELY excited to be airborne again. This summer sure ain't slowin down for us.

4.7.08

Bjørn, the poor dear, has to go to work today, IN CANADA! So in order to get him ready for the 4th of July out of country, we played Sousa marches - and boy did he march! woulda made his grandma proud! And of course, our favorite was Stars and Stripes Forever - a true classic. We then got him dressed up in American colors, and now, I think he is ready to show them Canadians, what true American pride is!

*Note: Bjørn did just get a 2 year extension on his work visa - so he can work in Canada for awhile more if he wants. Yay, for not having to find a different job!

30.6.08

buying boiled peanuts from Fred's (disgusting!), checking out Helen (alpine village 10 min. from Jill's house), going to Rib Country (where Jillio works) for blackberry cobbler, buying watermelon and Georgia Peaches from a fruit stand, swimming AGAIN at the lake, reading by her pond, drinks in Helen

(ya know, the ol southern plantation ones that have been around since slavery), biscuits gravy and ham dinner, watchin fire flies at the local Chuggin Hole

Friday: checking out a friend's garage sale (Southern folk love their flea markets and garage sales), swimming at a private pool with Jill's roommate, shopping at the outlets (LOVE a good deal), eating a catfish at a Southern Buffet

Saturday: intertubing down the Chatahoochee River, swimming at the local country club where Jill's boyfriend is gonna work, dinner and margaritas at the Mexican restaurant, fireworks at the drag strip, first time trying Southern Comfort (TOO sweet). Leaving at 3:00am for the ATL to fly home.

19.6.08

Leaving next Tuesday morning and staying til Sunday. CRAZY. Bring on the flies, the critters, back country folk, and the heat....oh the heat. I will sweat for 5 days straight. And i will love every second of it.

Since I get a bit of brake from work, I have decided it's time for some cleaning out of the house. Hence, I have been going through all of my clothes and taking whatever I don't wear anymore to Foxxy Brown's, a "trendy women's consignment store", that just opened in Lynden. Maybe I can make a little cash money on my old stuff!

My next project is to clean up my desk, which means I am going to have to do a lot of organizing. (I haven't exactly been able to use my desk for about 2 1/2 months, due to all of the stuff piled up on it - oops!)

17.6.08

I have a job interview this morning. But I was in Vancouver from 10am-10pm yesterday for a baby shower, day care, and bible study, and thus came home at 11pm with a cold. I've gotta pull myself together for the interview - time to increase the meds.

I have a feeling afterwards, I will spend the rest of the day sleeping.

14.6.08

I wasn't aware that I was put on a 10-month payment plan, like all teachers are. So I was quite happy to find out that my paychecks will keep coming through the beginning of September, and that my benefits last as long as well.

Thus, I have already been to the dentist and am getting my wisdom teeth pulled this summer. And I already got a new pair of glasses. Talk about good healthcare plans!

Bjørn can you think of any reason you need to go to the doctor? It's on me this time ;)

13.6.08

began with Bjørn waking me up as he got dressed. Apparently he didn't get the memo that I am on vacation! After having breakfast with Bjørn-o and getting him out the door, I had a cup of coffee in my french press.

I then spent 2 hours sending out emails - I still have to get enough kids to register for summer school. AND, I applied for/set up an interview to work for Children's House International, a non-profit adoption agency located in Ferndale. Next Tuesday. I did a little watering of the herb garden (which due to lack of a camera chord, I have not put up any pictures of), and read outside in the sun. Yes, it was sunny today, windy, but sunny. Oh yeah, I also went through all my clothes and began the process of taking clothes to the local consignment store.

Now, I am going to make a pizza and wait for Bjørn to come home so we can go to Birch Bay for the evening - you never know, we could go another 3 weeks without sun!

3.6.08

Bjørn and I just decided to go with our East Van youth to build a house in Mexico again this summer. Two summers ago when I worked for New Beginnings, I helped to coordinate the trip, which was our first time going. And it was amazing. We built the 2000th home for YWAM's Sand Diego base.Bjørn and I weren't going to sign up as leaders this summer because we didn't feel like God was pulling us that direction. But when the team couldn't find any guy leaders to go, we decided to step up and be the answer to that prayer (pretty cool how God can use any of us in that way). We're both stoked to be going...I can't really think of anything I'd rather be doing this summer.

21.5.08

Courtesy of Williams-Sonoma. 2 Notes: #1) The ham hock/bone is the only tricky ingredient. I found out though that Safeway usually puts out ham bones in the meat section or you can ask at the deli. #2) I usually add double the lime juice and lots of salt & pepper...ya know black beans need a little doctoring ;)

Directions:Pick over the beans, discarding any misshapen beans and stones, and rinse well. In a large pot, combine the beans with cold water to cover by 3 inches. Soak for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Alternatively, for a quick-soak method, bring the beans and water to a rapid simmer (but do not boil), then simmer for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour. Drain the beans and set aside.

In a large soup pot over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the onions and sauté until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the chilies to taste, garlic, bell pepper, cumin, coriander and oregano. Sauté, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened and the mixture is very aromatic, 7 to 10 minutes.

Add the beans, water and ham hock, cover partially and simmer over medium heat until the beans are soft, 1 to 1 1⁄2 hours. Remove from the heat and discard the ham hock.

In a blender or food processor, puree the soup in batches, leaving some texture, and return the soup to the pot. Alternatively, process with a handheld blender in the pot until the desired consistency is reached. Add the lime juice, minced cilantro, salt and pepper. If the soup is too thick, thin it with water. (If you prefer a velvety consistency, puree the soup until smooth, then pour it through a fine-mesh strainer into a saucepan.) Reheat gently over medium heat.

Just before serving, make the salsa cream: In a small bowl, stir together the sour cream, lime juice, salsa, salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into warmed bowls and garnish each bowl with the salsa cream and a cilantro sprig. Serves 6 to 8.

15.5.08

After arriving at the cabin (2 1/2 weeks ago), Dan, Julie, Bjørn and I headed out towards La Conner to find the tulip fields. Bjørn promised us, as the driver, that he would find tulips. After 3 daffodil fields, and 4 already cut and cleared tulip fields, we finally found a small patch of tulips.

Then as we drove back to the highway, we came upon this field. Quite beautiful.

11.5.08

10.5.08

Bjørn asked me last night if I could say in one phrase what I wanted this weekend to be, what would it be? I responded "Fun in the Sun." Unfortunately, we woke up this morning and once again, it is cloudy with no chance of sun.

At least we got to go for a picnic and walk at Lake Padden last night. I love how many different bodies of water we have within 30 min. of us!

And now, I am sitting on the couch as Bjørn makes me french toast and a smoothie. What a gem.

9.5.08

Our x-roommates and good friends from TWU, Dan and Julie, are off to Korea to teach ESL and make cash money in a month! But they left BC and us this last weekend.

As a send-off, Bjørn and I set up using our Uncles' cabin (just south of Bham) at Cain Lake. The weather was awesome enough to spend a lot of time canoeing and boating out on the peaceful lake (no motorboats allowed)... and of course, a little Settlers in the evening! I still have yet to win a single Settlers game, yet somehow I am convinced it is a good game (weird?!).

We took lots of pictures, but they are all sitting on Dan and Julie's camera waiting to be uploaded and sent to me. So until then, here is a shot from February, when Jana, Julie and I had a girls weekend at the cabin.

P.S. I realize that "Koneecheewa" is Japanese, not Korean. One of our friends kept saying koneecheewa, because he didnt' know any Korean!

For the last day of my after-school program session #1, I made tamales for all the students to try. We did tamales since both the outside (a corn husk) and the inside (maza) come from corn, and our whole unit was all about corn.

Boy, were they a major pain in the butt to make though! I was thinking since I was going to all the effort to make them, I'd prefer to make a big batch, like 2 dozen. I miscalculated a little and made enough maza for 4 dozen... Boy do those corn husks get exhausting to tie! Maybe one day I'll actually get to use banana leaves for the shell, like they do in Guatemala!

29.4.08

Bjørn's parents came up this weekend to celebrate Grandma Bulthuis' 85th birthday. The weather was nice enough to go outside for awhile. Bjørn and I looked dazed and confused in this shot cuz we aren't accustomed to the brightness of a clear day.

22.4.08

My dear Aunt Marti is one those blog readers, who is very good about checking peoples' blogs and getting on family members (Peter will understand) when they drop the ball on updates. We're sorry. And yet, today for the first time, I asked myself, why doesn't Marti have a blog? (Sorry I had to tease just a little Marti!) She of course is right though, in bugging me.

Anyway, I haven't updated my blog for awhile, mostly because, aside from a quick weekend trip Bjørn and I took, my life has been depressing. Some of you might think that's a figure of speech, but I'm serious. I think I have SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). I looked it up on wikipedia, and self-diagnosed. I mean honestly, what is going on with this weather?! When it started snowing a blizzard here in Lynden this Friday, I decided to just give up and ship myself FedEx express to Florida. Now some reading this may think, "Jenny, aren't you being a tad bit over-dramatic and exaggerative?" To which I would respond, "Have I ever been known to exaggerate in my whole ENTIRE life?!" ;)

In other news, as of yesterday, I am back on the job market. I had to ask my boss some tough questions about next school year, to which she replied like a champ, "I have no idea!" due to major budget cuts, and recommended I start looking up some other jobs. I truly appreciate having a boss that will straight-shoot me. Having found an awesome opportunity working with the county to plan low-income housing in Whatcom, I stayed up til 12:30am last night and worked until 4:30pm today to send in my application (15 pg. process).

And now I am exhausted. And have no idea what to make for dinner. Maybe I'll tell Bjørn we're not having dinner? :)

8.4.08

My dad has always had us listen to Johnny Cash growing up, but it's not until the last few years, I've come to understand his music. Jill had this song as her ringback tone on her cell, so we downloaded it the other day.

The video is alright, but the audio itself is powerful.

You can run on for a long timeRun on for a long timeRun on for a long timeSooner or later God'll cut you downSooner or later God'll cut you down

Go tell that long tongue liarGo and tell that midnight riderTell the rambler, the gambler, the back biterTell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em downTell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

Well my goodness gracious let me tell you the newsMy head's been wet with the midnight dewI've been down on bended knee talkin' to the man from GalileeHe spoke to me in the voice so sweetI thought I heard the shuffle of the angel's feetHe called my name and my heart stood stillWhen he said, "John go do My will!"

Go tell that long tongue liarGo and tell that midnight riderTell the rambler, the gambler, the back biterTell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em downTell 'em that God's gonna cut 'em down

23.3.08

18.3.08

I made fourteen 5 and 6 year olds become my factory workers, complete with uniforms. One kid almost got fired. Good help is hard to find these days...

I inadvertently signed myself up for the Lynden Tribune to come and take pictures of my factory workers (hope they don't turn me in to the cops) and write an article about the after-school program.

As I was talking to the reporter, I realized I have no idea how to explain the after-school program. That was embarrassing.

Not realizing that the Lynden Tribune was the big newspaper for Lynden (kinda like Gazette-Times in Corvallis), I offered the writer to send in pictures that I would take on my $100 digital camera! That was double embarrassing.

I messed up on making a pie crust for the top of my apple pie, TWICE today.

17.3.08

to wear green to school! How bad of an idea was that, when I work with children?! (Note: I HATE being pinched!)

the shamrock is part of St. Patrick's Day because St. Patty himself used it as a missionary tactic to talk to the Irish about the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. My only question is: what do you do when an Irish lad finds a 4-leaf clover?

Only at Sumas can you openly talk about the religious roots of holidays without any fear of being politically incorrect.

My Spring resolution (why limit resolutions to only the New Year?) is to not kill any of my plants! In my defense, out of 12 plants, only 4 died over the winter: 2 from thirst, 1 from a freak disease, and the other 1 had a serious smoking problem--I always told him it would catch up with him...some plants just never listen.

Sauerkraut can tend to be a little "gassy" but cooking it in beer helps to neutralize the acidity of the sauerkraut. Recipezaar told me so! ;) Think I might try it with some spicy italian sausage tonight.

14.3.08

Bjørn and I have been stressing since last night about buying a car for sale down in Marysville. After driving down there last night (1 1/2 hrs from lynden), and waking up at 11:30pm to find out that Bjørn's car had overheated and he barely made it home, I was a little exhausted. And Bjørn was probably worse. We stayed up late trying to figure out everything financially and decide if we should get the car.

Needless to say it was a weird way to start my birthday. I then got a call at 6:30am from my boss asking if i could ride on a pre-school bus. I was already catching a ride to the school an hour before i was spose to be there, so I thought, 'at least i could get paid for my hour by riding the bus.' So I agreed. As soon as I got to Sumas, she had to drive me 15 min. down to the bus grounds (in Everson) and we missed the route by 5 min. After all that, I didn't work extra...but i did get paid extra. I didn't tell anyone it was my birthday, cuz it was such a funky start to a day it didn't really feel like a birthday...and I didn't want my boss feeling bad for me.

But my Aunt Kay, who was subbing the whole day at Sumas, bought me a cake at lunch (a delicious chocolate cake might i add), and had all my fourth grade kids sing me happy birthday. The rest of the afternoon passed with all the kids wishing me a happy birthday every time they saw me and saying, "You look so pretty", etc. 4th graders really can boost your self-esteem! She's a real gem.

I think in the end, I realized that birthdays are becoming less of a big deal to me. From being around kids, I remember thinking it was the BEST day ever! Now though, I feel like, "So you came out of your mom's wound one day, and now, we celebrate that day every single year?!" BUT of course, that's not to say I don't enjoy how special your friends and family make you feel on your birthday. :)

27.2.08

Who would've thought that 1 little bottle of nasal spray could cause so much pain, energy, and $? Before I left this weekend to visit my dear friend Stephanie in Seattle for a girls weekend of wedding dress shopping, I clumsily bumped a bottle of nasal spray into the toilet as it was flushing (stupid! stupid!).

I left without leaving a note. Bjørn thought I had plugged the toilet and spent part of the evening and the next morning unsuccessfully trying to unplug the toilet.

Finally, today I was able to get a plumber to come and fix the problem. He had to undo the toilet and turn it upside down to figure out that the bottle was stuck right in the track. I am awaiting him to give me the bill right now, but needless to say, this little bottle, worth $5.99 has been a lot of trouble. Oh, and the pain factor of the whole situation was most felt when we had to take trips to Safeway the last 4 days to go #2. NOT fun.